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Post by cobber on Jul 21, 2009 15:54:49 GMT 10
G'day Don R. I submit for analysis by the Carapark tragics the relevant specification pages I have.... 1957, '59, '61 and '62. Would be good if somebody with the 1958 and 1960 manuals would let us have a look at them ..aye ? The 1957 Specifications reference to an “Eighteen” model is to the “toast rack” style.  In the 1959 specifications Zestline don't get a Guernsey at all..... but they do have a “Sixteen - Two”... could be... most likely... the Zestline shape without the tail fins   Then.. in 1961 there are two Zestline models.. the “Zestline 13” and the “Zestline 16”  THEN....... In 1962 only one model is shown.... same specifications as the '59 “Sixteen–Two" and '61 “Zestline 16” ... but now called the “Zestline Sixteen–Two”... again.  Cobber. |
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Post by astronauty on Jul 21, 2009 18:41:02 GMT 10
HMMM interesting naming, Carapark usually added the length to the description, and the Ex Kingy Zestline had a badge on the side with "Zestline 12/9" so too did the one for sale in Melbourne I posted up about. so by that they 16 and 16-2 SHOULD have been large vans, but the "pre Zestline" "Zestlines" are all around 12/9
I love that there is finally enough interest in these great vans to help unravel the threads, I wonder what has ever happened to the early Zestline owners, most of them seem to have fallen off the forum?
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Post by bobandjacqui on Jul 21, 2009 18:51:41 GMT 10
This thread is getting interesting! Reading Cobbers information today brings a question? 1959 ....ms..."Z"....covered aluminium ? Is this a missing link? The plot thickens !!!
Waiting for the next episode... Bob and Jacqui.
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Post by astronauty on Jul 21, 2009 21:27:38 GMT 10
Cobber do you have the 63 and 64 spec sheets? it woudl be interesting to see the way they have listed Astronauts and if and when the Zestline ended.
Also is that a comprehensive list of all vans available for each maker or a representation of the range?
Matt
self confessed Astronaut / Zestline tragic lol
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Post by cobber on Jul 21, 2009 23:09:13 GMT 10
G'day Matt, I don't have the '63 or '64 Caravan and Touring Manuals so I can't fill in those gaps..... sorry  The specification pages in these manuals cover all the brands in each of the states, for instance in the 1962 manual there are 10 pages giving specifications for 48 different makes. I have a suspicion that Keith Winser only included those who payed to be listed..  so it is not the holy grail... but we don't have much else to guide us I'm afraid. Cobber. |
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Post by Don Ricardo on Jul 21, 2009 23:29:36 GMT 10
Hi Cobber,
Thanks for posting the Carapark model lineup from the Winsers. The info contained in them seems to support Astronauty's theory thus far. As you say, it would be good to see what the '58 and '60 editions say.
One other request in this regard - did any of the Winsers you looked at - particularly the '59 have any Carapark pics which showed or did not show as the case may be the toaster models as well as the Zestline forerunners? In other words are all the models listed toasters?
If we can't find any pics of the Zestline forerunners pre '60 then we've really got a mystery to solve.
Don Ricardo
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Post by cobber on Jul 22, 2009 14:54:05 GMT 10
G'day Detective Superintendent Don Ricardo  There is nothing in the 1959 Caravan and Touring Manual to indicate that anything other than the toast rack style of 'van was in the incubator... although the zestline shape obviously was  This photo shows the small “Ten-Nine” model and what I expect is the “Sixteen-Two” or the Eighteen” (just a guess).  The 25ft “Mobile Home” referred to in the text is actually this cute little fella which is described in the text as a 23 ft job :-  It is also described as a 23 footer in this photo  The investigation continues Provisional Constable.. second class, Cobber. |
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Post by astronauty on Jul 24, 2009 19:45:05 GMT 10
HMMMM Now just to throw something new into the discussion..................................... As a confirmed Astronaut / Zestline tragic I have been pouring over all the adverts and information, pictures and personal experience that I have had admiring these vans for years and have formulated the following It MAY be possible to get an approximate age of a Zestline from the shape of the external cladding, and side mouldings on the van! DISCLAIMER - this is from my observation and interest in these vans for many years and is reflective of MY observations at this time, hopefully as chassis and other information comes to light it may narrow it down further dispel some of this information or support it, who knows, but it is MY belief that.................. from what I can see a lot of the adverts for these vans come out around April of each year announcing the "new" model so for the sake of interest I will use April as a model year change point, and apply my theory of early (pre 1960 Zestlines) All pre 1960 models I have seen have: No External Badges, except the Carapark one, no rear fins, round (usually opening) portholes with a lower rear textured panel, coloured differently to the rest of the van with an alloy strip to seperate it from the rest of the aluminium cladding, some have additional painted sections but the cladding has no other strips to cover seperate panels (Like Melanco's and Bob and Jacqie's vans) vintagecaravans.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general08&thread=2210&page=1vintagecaravans.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=photo&action=display&thread=46681960 to 1961 Zestlines have: The addition of flying buttresses on each side of the front windows, and large side front windows where the portholes were previously (these are the first vans we can find "official"adverts for and mention the name "Zestline" and additional side mouldings from the roof to the belt line, then to the rear at the same height as top of fin on rear, fins added and large rectangular "Zestline (screenprinted) and "Carapark" (Chrome 3 dimensional badge) added to the plate on rear quarter panel Like the caravan in the advert I posted earlier in this thread and this one......... vintagecaravans.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=forsale2&action=display&thread=11021961 to 1962 Zestlines have: more elaborate side mouldings again (same as the van owned by Duckie) with additional strips added and different paint combinations again like this one, also notice the shape of the rear side windows - no longer rectangular but longer on the lower edge than top. I have only seen three of this style of van, the one listed in the thread below, there was one sold on this forum many years ago (on the old forum- it was white and from memory had a remodelled interior with front kitchen - yes I have been round here that long LOL) and in the thread about the history of Carapark, there is a picture of Bob and Dolly Dyer standing in the doorway of one vintagecaravans.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=photo&thread=1334&page=11962 to 1963 Zestlines reverted to regular rear side windows, have this style of external aluminium and flash, and a different style of window frame (grooves in it) and are really the point that Zestline and Astronaut are built side by side and switched from one name to the other at the "Official" release of the Astronaut name vintagecaravans.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=forsale2&action=display&thread=1101the side treatment continued through the Astronaut series as evidenced by the only three I have found: vintagecaravans.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=photo&thread=1476&page=1vintagecaravans.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general08&thread=2247&page=1any further comments are as always appreciated Matt |
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Post by Don Ricardo on Jul 27, 2009 22:09:53 GMT 10
The following 1958 Practical Householder magazines are currently up for auction on Ebay (July 2009). According to the advertiser they consist of: "2 Australian Practical Householder Magazines Nov 1958 and Dec 1958 containing parts 1 and 2 (full feature 8 pages in all) on how to build your own Caravan with basic kit supplied by Carapark Productions!" (emphasis added).      The reason for posting this information on the Carapark thread is that it is clear that the kits supplied by Carapark were based on the Hunter 15 foot/Hunter de Luxe model, as shown in this 1953 advert posted by Franklin1.  Compare in particular the unusual floorline of the Practical Householder van and the Hunter de Luxe, and the placement of the windows. The Hunter 15 foot/de Luxe model was in production in 1947 (albeit with a single front window), and appears to have been still in production in 1958 if the kits available to Practical Householder readers are any indication. There are other pics of this model caravan on this thread. |
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Post by Franklin1 on Aug 5, 2009 23:12:20 GMT 10
Here's a Carapark 12-9 van on ebay, but the interesting thing here is the original label still on the mattress...  |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2009 22:51:20 GMT 10
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Post by astronauty on Sept 25, 2009 9:35:35 GMT 10
WOW great find Mark, first one of those I have seen.
Any idea of approximate age? I am thinking it must be early sixties as well, the aluminium pattern is the same as my 62 Astronaut (although mines does not have the raised ridges), and the electrical plug is VERY similar to the Astronaut series of vans as well but with out the small "shield" for the weather (maybe cause they are up under the eaves on the Astronaut?)
Matt
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Post by cobber on Oct 5, 2009 11:19:56 GMT 10
Another couple of pages for the Zestline tragics , this time from the 1961 Caravan & Touring manual.   Cobber. |
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Post by jacol on Feb 3, 2010 17:14:00 GMT 10
Hi hubby and i are newbies here
we have a carapark voyager have had her for about 6 yeaqrs. we have done about 50,000 ks with her, the last being a trip around aussie last year
to the best of our knowledge she was built in 1963
we get that from the date welded onto the tow bar as part of the numbers on it. it is either the first or last 2 numbers
hope this is of some help
jackie and col
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Post by Don Ricardo on Feb 13, 2010 21:36:52 GMT 10
Hi Jackie & Col, Welcome to the forum and thanks for telling us about your Zestline. Everyone seems to have missed your post when you put it up, sorry. However, I'm sure that Astronauty, our resident Zestline/Astronaut sleuth, will be pleased to hear about your van and would probably like to find out its serial number. Are you able to post some pics of your van? The best way to do it is via Photobucket, but you can also use Flickr, etc. You can read about how to post photos by clicking here. As you have probably seen we are trying to work out a way of dating Zestlines, so any help you can give us will be helpful. And again welcome! Don Ricardo |
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Post by astronauty on Feb 14, 2010 14:16:46 GMT 10
Hi Jackie and Col, WELCOME! is your Voyager the same as the model Mark posted above here (the two tone blue one?)
we don't have a lot of info on the Voyagers, but if it is 63 it came down the production line the same time as last Zestlines and the middle of the production of Astronauts - perhaps the Voyager was the Zestline replacement?
would be most interested in seeing some pictures and of course discussing your chassis number.
Matt
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Post by Don Ricardo on Feb 14, 2010 17:46:28 GMT 10
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Post by cobber on Mar 20, 2010 16:22:35 GMT 10
A bit more about Carapark from the May 1958 "Australian Motor Manual". Page 1  Page 2  Cobber. |
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Post by persephone on Apr 18, 2010 18:24:26 GMT 10
HI- newbie here! We have just been given an absolutely delightful CARAPARK van- a NEWLINE 16. Does anyone know the manufacture date? Any other information? Thankyou  |
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Post by DC3Td on Apr 18, 2010 18:37:16 GMT 10
Hi Persephone.Welcome to the forum. Lots of info contained within these 5 pages that your post is currently on. Check the tow bar (draw bar, "A"frame are other names).Should either be a stamped plate (latter day fixing by some one possibly) or the usual letter/numbers combination that is welded on the tow bar. Check also for pencil/pen scribbling under/behind drawers/cupboard doors etc. A lot of builders in the early days did this. (still do!) Couple of pics via photobucket wouldn`t go astray nor a general location.cheers gordon
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Post by persephone on Apr 18, 2010 18:54:54 GMT 10
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Post by Don Ricardo on Apr 19, 2010 10:59:46 GMT 10
Hi Persephone, It's good to have you on the forum, and great to hear about the gift you have received. The model name 'Newline' for a Carapark is not one that has been reported on the forum previously, but from the external photo you've posted on Facebook, your van looks to me like a variation on a Carapark Astronaut which was produced around 1963 I think. The '16' indicates that it is 16 feet in length. Forum contributor Astronauty (bet you can't guess what his van is! ;D ;D ;D ) has done a fair bit of work dating Astronauts and their predecessors in the Carapark stable, which were called Zestlines. Hopefully he will be able to tell your more. There's a post at the top of this page (Reply #60) which provides some of the info he's collected. There's a pic of a 1963 Astronaut on page 3 of this thread (Reply #42) which is what I've based my comment on. You can compare the van in the advert with yours. It will help to date your van if you can post some more external photos - the window arrangement and side flashes/decoration seem to be particularly critical in dating Zestlines and Astronauts (and Newlines?). The more photos the better in terms of dating. To post photos on the V V forum, have a look at the instructions provided by Jim by clicking here. It takes a little bit of time to work it all out, but you've obviously mastered Facebook, so posting photos on the forum hopefully won't phase you. We look forward to hearing more about your van, and how you came to receive it. Don Ricardo |
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Post by astronauty on Apr 19, 2010 19:17:01 GMT 10
Thanks for the additional pictures Persephone,
This is the very first of these model to make it's way onto this forum!
As for dating it, workign off the very limited amount of information I have (and inserting a little guesstimate) for the later Carapark models I pick it to be a 1967 model.
It has a lot of similarities to the Astronaut vans namely:
The small Carapark Badges on the front sides, Both Side Windows, wheel arch shape, Drawbar set up (including twin gas bottle mounting), front and rear perspex corners look to be the same, even the centre front window (and second one mounted in the rear of the van)
The general profile is similar (expect for the more rounded roofline) and the interior lay out is almost the same as my 1962 Astronaut 15/5, but it has the ply interior, unlike yours, even the table leg and light switches and light fittings are the same.
All in all a truely unique van, congratulations Would love to see it in the flesh at some stage
Matt
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Post by persephone on Apr 19, 2010 20:34:05 GMT 10
This is the very first of these model to make it's way onto this forum ! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  I cannot find a mention of a NEWLINE anywhere on the google searches I've done ...would love a bit more info? The more we explore it, the more amazing the interior design is The beds are very narrow though..even the 'double' is only today's King Single size . Ventilation is superb..and there is loads of storage space!! The clock has been over wound- and will be seen to by a watchmaker . Does anyone know if carpet was standard issue- Ours has a grey carpet underfoot.... very tired looking... |
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Post by Don Ricardo on Apr 20, 2010 0:44:58 GMT 10
I cannot find a mention of a NEWLINE anywhere on the google searches I've done ...would love a bit more info? Hi Persephone, I'm not sure how to tell you this, but because your Newline is the first one to be reported on the forum, you have instantly become the world expert on Newlines! You're the only one to have seen one... ;D ;D ;D Seriously though, I see you've conquered Photobucket to post your avatar (congratulations on that too ), so if you are able to post some more photos of your van on the forum we - and especially Astronauty! - may be able to help you work out more about it. The more photos the better. It's surprising what comes out when a few V V'ers start looking at photos and comparing notes. Don Ricardo |
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so it is not the holy grail... but we don't have much else to guide us I'm afraid. 
